Council on Tuesday May 7 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

MUNICIPAL ADVISER REPORT

Kamloops city council to consider pushing for recall legislation for municipal officials

May 8, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Both provincial and federal politicians are subject to recall legislation, where if enough constituents sign onto a petition, a fresh election would be called in that riding. That provision, however, does not exist for municipal councilors and mayors.

Following a presentation from municipal adviser Henry Braun to council on Tuesday (May 7), Kamloops city council may take a forward role in changing that. One of the 23 recommendations put forth by Braun was for Kamloops to pursue legislative changes to create an avenue for change.

Henry Braun’s report, page 13

“It’s in the report that it allows for removal,” said Deputy Mayor Kelly Hall. “You have to be careful what you wish for but there has to be some change to the charter to allow this so the dysfunction that we see not only in this community but some other communities throughout B.C. and Alberta — you have a tool to deal with it.”

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While the recommendation came forward from Braun, the municipal adviser was worried about what recall legislation could mean to local governments and how councillors and mayor vote on tough topics.

“My concern is that if recall legislation is legislated, you’re going to have mayors and councils who are more concerned about raising a controversial issue and voting ‘no’ against something that may give rise to a recall petition,” Braun told reporters following his presentation. “They are going to be more concerned about that than they should be about, ‘Is this in the best interest of this city going forward?’ That is my concern.”